Accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in children up to 5 years of age. Most of these accidents occur in and around the home, and many are preventable. Here are details.
  • Store all poisonous materials on high shelves, out of the reach of children. Never keep poisonous products in containers or bottles used for beverages or food. Toxic products should have safety caps and should be properly closed.

  • The following houseplants are poisonous if swallowed or chewed and should be kept out of the reach of children: poinsettia, mistletoe, dieffenbachia, philodendron, rhubarb, laurel, rhododendron, azalea, and cherry boughs.

  • Make sure that your child cannot accidentally get locked in a closet or other confined space. Check all knobs and locks in the house, and remove any that suggest possible hazards.

  • Set the water heater no higher than 120˚F to protect children from being scalded in the bathtub.

  • Make sure all electrical outlets are sealed off with safety caps. Also, check all electrical cords to make sure that the insulation has not become frayed and that the wires are not exposed.

    Make sure all electrical outlets have safety caps, to prevent children from inspecting them.

    Make sure electrical outlets have safety caps.


  • All dangling cords should be taped down, unplugged, or moved up out of your baby's reach.
  • Make sure that all windows your child might be able to get to are locked, barred, or adapted with window stops, screens, or grilles so that they will open no more than 6 inches.

  • Keep home workshop tools disconnected, and lock switches and power supplies so a child cannot turn them on.

  • Check all toys to be sure any eyes, noses, buttons, knobs, or other parts will not come off when pulled or chewed. Balloons, in particular, can be dangerous to small children (if a balloon pops, the small pieces are a choking hazard).

  • Keep small unsupervised children away from toys or games with disc batteries. The batteries are small enough to be swallowed and are potentially lethal. Household appliances, watches, and hearing aids containing these batteries should also be kept out of reach.

  • Avoid using caustic drain cleaners. The "metal snake" or standard rubber plunger are more effective in cleaning drains and offer no toxic hazard. Dispose of empty bottles that once contained caustics. Even if rinsed, they may contain crystals which, if ingested by a child, could cause injury.
Now let's consider safety tips for specific rooms in the house. They're in the next section.